Alternative Names Blervie Tower; Ulerin
Site type CASTLE, FARMHOUSE, FARMSTEAD, TOWER HOUSE
Canmore ID 15778
Site Number NJ05NE 3
NGR NJ 07081 57178
Council MORAY
Parish RAFFORD
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District MORAY
Former County MORAYSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ05NE 3 07081 57178.

(NJ 07075718) Blervie Castle (NR) (Remains of)
OS 25" map (1906)

Blervie Castle was built on the z-plan by the Dunbars about 1600. The western angle tower and an adjoining fragment of the main block are all that now remain. The repair of the royal castle of Blervie or Ulerin, in anticipation of Haco's invasion in 1263, is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls.
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887; R G Cant 1948

The remains of Blervie Castle are well preserved and are as described above. Modern farm buildings have been added, and built onto , the outside walls. Variations on the spelling of the name range from Blare, Blarvie, Blairvie to Blervie.
Revised at 25".
Visited by OS (RB) 6 September 1965

Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 37

Cant, R G (1948a) Old Moray: a description of old buildings illustrated with photographs, two plans and a map, {Elgin}
Page(s): 27 Held at RCAHMS D.5.41.CAN

Coventry, M (2001) The castles of Scotland Musselburgh
Page(s): 92 Held at RCAHMS F.5.2.COV

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92) The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, 5v Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol.2, 263-4 fig.719 Held at RCAHMS F.5.21.MAC

Rhind, W (ed.) (1839) Sketches of the past and present state of Moray, 'Illustrations drawn and sketched by D Alexander esq.''Edinburgh: Printed by Andrew Shortrede, Thistle Lane' Elgin
Held at RCAHMS D.5.4.RHI.R

Scottish Castle Survey (1988) 'A directory of the owners and occupiers of the castles, manors and 'town houses' {c.1050-c.1707} of Scotland: Grampian Region', Aberdeen
Page(s): 61, no 135/2 Held at RCAHMS B.2.1.CAS

Watson and Watson, J and W (1868) Morayshire described: being a guide to visitors, containing notices of ecclesiastical and military antiquities, topographical descriptions of the principal country residences, towns and villages and genealogical notes of the leading families in the county, 'With map and illustrations' Elgin, printed by Jeans and Grant.
Page(s): 35 Held at RCAHMS D.5.41.WAT.R